We spent a night on Dublin's streets with a homeless support group — here's what happened

Volunteers from homeless support group A Lending Hand visit Dublin's streets every Friday night, with trolleys of food, drinks, clothes, and sleeping bags. It's a rare relief for people whose lives have been shaped by years of trauma and addiction, writes Alison O’Reilly

A Lending Hand is not a charity. It relies on donations and the efforts of volunteers who have built relationships with people sleeping rough over many years.

“I don’t want to be here anymore. I am sick of this life. Who would want this?”

Shane O’Connor, 45, is sitting in a doorway in Dublin, watching over his belongings while keeping an eye on people approaching him. He says he injects heroin and uses crack cocaine.